Evergreen Plantation
HousePhotograph from the National
Historic Landmarks collectionThe
standard row pattern of slave quarters, lost throughout much of
the South, can still be seen at EvergreenPhotograph from the National
Historic Landmarks collection

Evergreen is only one of eight
major Greek Revival style plantation houses remaining on the historic
River Road. These "Gone With the Wind" era houses lined River Road on
the eve of the Civil War, but many more have been lost over the years
than have survived. Characteristic of these homes, Evergreen's original
French Creole farmhouse was completely remodeled in 1832 by Pierre C.
Becnel. As a result of this expansion, the "big house" features stuccoed-brick
Doric columns that extend from the ground to the roof on the wide double
galleries, and boasts two remarkable fanlight doorways at the head and
foot of the winding double stairway servicing the galleries. Evergreen
is significant not only because of the existence of its main building
along River Road, but also because of the remains of the plantation complex.
With two pigeonniers (structures used by upper-class French for housing
pigeons), two garconieries (dwellings for a family's young boys), a privy,
a kitchen, a guesthouse, an overseer's house, and a double row of 22 slave
cabins, Evergreen is unique. It is one of only a handful of plantations
that evoke what major plantations resembled in the antebellum period of
America's history. Usually only the main house of the planter's family
have endured the ravages of time.

Over the decades, the most serious change to Evergreen as a plantation
complex has been the extensive fabric replacement evident in the slave
quarters. Some noteworthy original features, such as chimneys, shutters,
and doors remain, but nearly 150 years of patching, repairs, and reconstruction
have caused alterations. It is surprising that these quarters, retaining
their original appearance and double row configuration, have survived
at all. There is very little documentation on these buildings, although
it is clear that they are indeed antebellum. The 1860 census lists Lezin
Becnel and his brother, the then owners of the plantation, as having
103 slaves in 48 dwellings. The only known historic map of the plantation
is the Mississippi River Commission map of 1876, which shows 22 cabins
in the same configuration and location.

Evergreen Plantation, a National Historic Landmark, is located
on State Hwy. 18, in Wallace. The house is open to the public by
reservation only. Call 504-201-3180 to arrange a visit.